Government Spokesman Prodromos Prodromou has said that Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades has from the outset sought and continues to seek the resumption of negotiations for the reunification of Cyprus. In statements in Larnaka, yesterday, Prodromou clarified that the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ framework is well known to everyone and its parameters were conveyed by phone to his special adviser Espen Barth Eide on July 4. On his part, Greek Cypriot negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis, pointed out that the Greek Cypriot side has no substantial reservations with regard to the resumption of negotiations with a view to reaching a strategic agreement on a six-point package which the UN Secretary General has proposed on Cyprus.

Without an immediate radical change, there is no place for this Turkey in our Union, says EP President

“Our door remains open to Turkish people who should continue to be given an EU perspective. However, without an immediate radical change, there is no place for this Turkey in our Union,” European Parliament President Antonio Tajani said yesterday, in Brussels, during a seminar on Media and Press Freedom in Turkey, on the occasion of World press freedom day, organised by the European Parliament and the European Commission. Other European institutions and media representatives who addressed the seminar also criticised Turkeys behaviour in the area of freedom of press and freedom of expression.

Cyprus President opens Limassol port passenger terminal

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades opened the new Limassol port passenger terminal, yesterday evening, which will enable large cruise ships to visit Cyprus. The terminal features seven pods with a total floor area of 8,205 m2. Its east berth has a length of 480m and depth of 11 m and is able to handle the largest cruise vessels in the world, DP World Limassol says. The oil and gas logistics zone is 10,000 m2 with a 430m berth. Current occupation is at 30% and it has been used to support recent ENI offshore drilling campaign, while Exxon Mobile has also nominated it as its planned drilling logistics base.

Cypriot economy to expand by 3.8% University of Cyprus’ ERC says

The Cypriot economy will have an increased momentum in 2018, the University of Cyprus’s Economic Research Centre has said, upgrading its growth forecast to 3.8% compared with its previous projection of 3.6%. ?he Cypriot economy is expected to continue to grow at a solid pace in 2018 and 2019, the ERC said in its May 2018 Economic Outlook bulletin, noting that in 2019 growth is projected to moderate slightly, as real GDP is forecasted to expand by 3.5%.

Dismantling of fuel depots in the coast of Larnaka begins

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades attended a ceremony for the dismantling of the largest fuel depot in Cyprus, marking the commencement of the dismantling of the fuel depots on the coast of Larnaka. The government, the Municipalies of Larnaka and Livadia and the petroleum companies agreed on timeframe to conclude the dismantling of the fuel depots by late 2020. The fuel tank, estimated to hold 56,913 cubic metres of fuel is the largest ever constructed in Cyprus and belongs to Petrolina Holdings, a Cypriot petroleum company.

Cyprus records deflation 0.1% in April

Inflation in Cyprus decreased by 0.1% on an annual basis, according to data released yesterday by the Statistical Service of Cyprus. In April 2018, the Consumer Price Index increased by 0.60 units to 99.87 units compared to 99.27 units in March 2018. Compared to April 2017, the CPI is decreased by 0.1% while for the period January – April 2018, the CPI is decreased by 0.4% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.

Difficulties in excavating an area where Ashia missing persons are believed to be buried, Nestoros tells CNA

There are many difficulties in excavating the area in the northern Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus, where missing persons from Ashia village are believed to have been buried, the Greek Cypriot member to the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) Nestoras Nestoros has told the Cyprus News Agency in an interview. He assured however that despite these difficulties, the Committee will do its utmost to excavate the area.

President says will review subsidy to local authorities if reform goes ahead

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades has said that the government is willing to review the amount disbursed to local authorities as a subsidy, which has in recent years been greatly reduced, provided that the reform of the local administration goes ahead.President Anastasiades, who was speaking during a meeting with local actors in Larnaka, also referred to all the projects planned for the District of Larnaka and announced that as of April 2019 a new wing of the city’s general hospital will be delivered.

A delegation of the European Parliaments Committee on Petitions will be visiting on Tuesday the Glossa beach bordering the fenced off city of Varosha in Famagusta, in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus. The Committee on Petitions will conduct a fact-finding visit to the occupied by Turkish troops city of Famagusta, Cyprus, on 7-8 May 2018. The purpose of the mission, according to the Committee, is to reassess the situation in Famagusta, and in particular Varosha, the sealed-off section of the city, in the context of the follow-up to petition 733/2004, 10 years after the Committee’s previous fact-finding visit to the island, which took place on 25-28 November 2007. The petition was submitted by Loizos Afxentiou on behalf of the Famagusta Refugee Movement.

Limassol Boat Show opens its gates

Deputy Minister of Shipping Natasa Pilides opened the Limassol Boat Show, yesterday, at the Limassol Marina hosting 120 exhibitors from eight countries showcasing the latest in yachts, sailing boats, motor boats and water sports until May 6. According to its organisers the Limassol Boat Show will offer thousands of visitors the opportunity to view a wide range of the latest products and services in a unique setting. It will also include seminars, presentations of new products, activities on water and demonstrations.